Building construction



March 5, 1940. s. F. TAPMAN Y BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2, 19521v INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Mal'Ch 5 1940- s. F. YTAPMAN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 2, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR M Q 72M ATTORN EYS` Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Samuel F. Tapman,

Richmond Hill, N. Y.

Application February 2, 1938, Serial No. 188,252

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel and improved form of building construction, the novel features of which will be best understood from the following description and the annexed drawings,l in

which I have shown a selected embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of aportion of a roof constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a View on an enlarged scale of part of the structure shown in Fig. 1, parts thereof being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section approximately on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section approximately on the line #3 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section approximately on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section approximately on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a View approximately on the linev 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the clamp forming part of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the clip forming part of the clamp of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the caps.

While the invention may be used in any wall `or roof, or in fact in any part of a building, I shall describe it as used in connection with a roof, this being done solely for the purpose of convenience in description.

The invention is shown as comprising two corrugated sheets I and 2 which are overlapped by two other sheets of the same kind and which are designated 3 and 4. These sheets may form a roof and are preferably formed with upturned edge portions, as plainly shown in Figs. 4 and 6, these edge portions extending outwardly away from a stringer 5, here shown as of channel form having a flange 6 adjacent the sheets. While for the purpose of simplicity and convenience I shall refer to this member as a Stringer, it is of course to be understood that this term is not meant as limiting the invention in any way, as any other structural element known by any other name may be used within the scope of the invention.

Where the sheets 2 and 4, for example, overlap each other, the sheet 2 may be provided with a shoulder 'I in the outwardly extending end portion 8 thereof, as shown for example in Figs. 3 and 7. The sheets are arranged in rows extending vertically of the roof. For example, the sheets I and 3 are in one row and the sheets 2 and 4 are in another and, except where the sheets in a row (Cl. 10S-13) overlap each other, their edge portions are formed in the same manner, that is, they are bent back on themselves to form folds 9, and these folds receive the end portions I of a cap II. Between the shoulder 'I of a sheet and the adjacent end 1 of the same sheet, such fold is preferably omitted, as best indicated in Fig. 3.

The sheets are all preferably made of sheet metal, and the cap is likewise made of sheet metal or other suitable sheet material and it will be seen that, when a roof is laid, the sheets in adjacent rows may be put in place with their edge portions adjacent to each other but spaced apart slightly and preferably substantially parallel to each other. Then a cap may be slid longitudinally along the sheets, with the edge portions IIJ of the cap engaging beneath the folds 9 on opposite edge portions of the sheets, thus forming a tight joint without the use of any fastening means such as rivets, nails, or welding. Where two caps I I meet, it is preferable that they should be overlapped, as plainly shown in Figs. 5 and '7, and for this purpose preferably each cap at one end is cut away adjacent its edge portions, as plainly shown in Fig. 10, to form shoulders I2 and so that the edge portions I0 of the next cap may receive the edge I3 of the reduced or cut-away section. Similarly, where two sheets in a row overlap, the fold 9 is omitted, as described above.

The sheets are secured to the stringers by a clamp which is of a form avoiding any piercing of the roof but which at the same time will lock the sheets and caps in correct position, making a continuous roof of increased strength and capable of being dismantled without destroying the individual parts. Such a clamp is shown as comprising a clip I4 having wings I5 adapted to be received within the folds formed by the bent-back edge portions of the cap and between the cap and the adjacent edge portions of the sheets.

Cooperating with the wings of the clip are bearings I6 on the leg I'I of a chair having a foot I8 adapted to rest against the flange 6 of the Stringer. Conveniently, this chair may be formed of a single piece of sheet material having the foot portion bent back as shown at I9, to engage the edge of a flange and having the foot and leg at right angles to each other and having the upper or outward end of the foot bent parallel to the foot IB. This end 20 is integral with and may be considered as a part of the bearings I6, for convenience of definition. Aligned holes may be formed in the end 20 and the foot I8 for reception of a tie, here shown as a bolt 2| having a squared head tting a square 55 hole 22 in the clip to prevent rotation. The other end of the bolt may extend through a hole in a clip 23 engaging the bottom ange 24 of the Stringer. When the nut 25 is tightened on the bolt, the result will be to force the clip I4 towards the chair and to clamp the clip and the chair to overlapping portions of the cap and sheets. While the clamp is shown as being used Where the sheets in the row overlap each other, nevertheless, of course, it may be used at other points where there are only two sheets, one in each of two adjacent rows.

While I have shown the invention as embodied in a specic form, and while I have mentioned certain advantages of the invention, it is to be understood that this description is merely illustrative and that I do not intend to limit myself except by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In building construction, two sheets having adjacent edge portions each of which is bent back to form a fold, a cap overlapping said edge portions of the sheets and having its edge portions likewise bent back to form folds, the folds on said cap and sheets interloclning with each other and the edge portions of the cap and sheets being received within the folds of the sheets and cap, respectively, a Stringer disposed adjacent said sheets, a chair disposed between said stringer and said edge portions of said sheets, a clip engaging within said folds of the cap, and a tie secured to said clip and Stringer and adapted to force the clip and chair into contact with the portions of the sheets therebetween.

2. In building construction, a Stringer, two sheets adjacent said stringer and having edge portions adjacent each other and each bent outwardly away from the Stringer and then back on itself to form a fold, a cap overlapping said edge portions of the sheets and having its edge portions bent back within said folds of the sheets, a chair disposed between said stringer and said outwardly bent portions of the sheets, a clip disposed within said folds of the sheets, and a tie secured to said clip and Stringer and adapted to force the clip and chair into contact with said portions of the sheets.

3. In building construction, a clamp comprising a chair formed of a piece of sheet material and having a foot adapted to enga-ge the flange of a Stringer, said piece being bent outwardly from the foot to form a leg and being again bent at its outer portion to form one or more bearings, a clip formed to cooperate with said bearings to clamp sheets therebetween, aligned holes in said clip, one of said bearings, and said foot, and a tie extending through said aligned holes and adapted to force said clip towards said bearings.

SAMUEL F. TAPMAN. 

